Leith Lives

The stories of the men, women and children who have shaped the very history of Leith and made it a place to be proud of.

Jim Blaikie - A Laddie From Leith 10/03/2025

Jim Blaikie - A Laddie From Leith Jim Blaikie is a Leith poet and author, born in 1933, whose work draws deeply on the life, place, and dialect of his home. His best known work include A Laddie Looks at Leith, in which he captures memories, laughter and tears reflecting on what #Leith was like in his childhood. Join us in this nostalgic, lyrical journey, which celebrates the spirit of the Leith community and the power of the Scots language. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/38453200

Rose Minto: Life in Leith in the 1920s and 30s. 07/24/2022

Rose Minto: Life in Leith in the 1920s and 30s. Rose Minto was born Rose McIntyre on March 13th 1920. She spent her first 14 years in Bridge Street in Leith. Bridge street is now known as Sandport Place. None of the buidings exist that Rose would have known. Aside from The Rose Leaf pub, known as The Black Swan in Rose's day. (see widescreen photo.) Rose had an amazing and detailed recall of her life. These are evocative memories of life in Leith in the 1920s and 30s. The streets, the backgreen, the crowded housing, the shops, the pawn brokers and offal butchers. The close community, poverty and complex family relationship. Rose paints a vivid, unsentimental picture of life 90 years. Recorded in 2008 when Rose was 88. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/23834120

Andrew Grant- Leith Nautical College and the 'Dolphin.' 06/29/2022

Andrew Grant- Leith Nautical College and the 'Dolphin.' Anrew Grant was born in 1937 and attended Leith Nautical College in Commercial street from August 1953 to July 1954. He gives us a brief history of the college and then talks about the training he received. Also about being on board the training ship 'The Dolphin.' We hear about rowing across the Forth, the huge cost of buying a sextant and the evening ration of two biscuits and a lump of cheese. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/23550347

Archie Minto 12/07/2021

Archie Minto Archie Minto tells us what it was like growing up a form of cerebral palsy in 1950s Leith. Archie's Mother and Father fought to keep him at home and have him educated at main stream school where he was fortunate to have dedicated teachers including Sister Columba. It is due to his parents strong characters and the support of his maternal family that he is the man he is today. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/21404282

Gordon Munro : childhood memories and love of music 04/27/2021

Gordon Munro : childhood memories and love of music Gordon Munro Labour Councillor for Leith has had a love of music from a very early age His parents said he could play the record player before he could walk In this episode we will hear some of his record collection and tales of the live gigs in Edinburgh Venues Dr Feelgood in Leith Town Hall The Damned the first Punk gig at Clouds and meeting his wife at The Valves gig to name but a few /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/18822857

Maureen Sweeney Leith jobs in the 1960s 04/20/2021

Maureen Sweeney Leith jobs in the 1960s In this episode of Leith Lives Maureen Sweeney tells of starting work in the office of Bond 9 on Commercial Street at the age of 17 Maureen recounts the lively atmosphere in the Bond where all the workers were given 'an official' a tot of whisky two times a day and if the ladies wanted lemonade it was an extra 6d ! After working for 3 years in the Bond Maureen moved to work in the Eastern General Hospital where along with paying out wages and pensions she had to help transport body parts !Maureen then takes us on a trip around the fine assortment of shops that existed in Leith at that time from Andersons the butcher for lovely mince to Stella Blacks for delicious vanilla slices and pies /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/18775274

Derek Tilbrook talks about his documentary film Persevere. 02/09/2021

Derek Tilbrook talks about his documentary film Persevere. This episode was originally broadcast in 2019 on Thelma FM, our internet radio station. We were showing Derek Tilbrook's film Persevere during Leith Festival that year. Derek popped into the studio to talk about the making of the film, his own upbringing in Leith in the 1980s and 90s and the changing face of the area. We can't recommend the film enough. For those who haven't it go along to the Vimeo video platform and search for 'Persevere 2008 film.' /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/17880614

Leith memories through old newspapers and books. Part two 02/02/2021

Leith memories through old newspapers and books. Part two Originally broadcast on Thelma Internet radio Evelyn Whitfield reads a selection of articles from Old newspapers- The Evening News, Despatch, Leith Gazette, quotes from a series of booklets produced in the 1980s called Leith Lives and a book called Old Leith. We hear reports about Leith Links, golf, Willie Merrilees, Leith Pageant, Lambs House and Edinburgh and Leith's old people's welfare council. Some memories stretching back to 1900. Interspersed with music and songs from old 78rpm records. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/17659220

Leith memories through old newspapers and books. Part one 01/26/2021

Leith memories through old newspapers and books. Part one Originally broadcast on Thelma Internet radio Evelyn Whitfield reads a selection of articles from Old newspapers- The Evening News, Despatch, Leith Gazette, quotes from a series of booklets produced in the 1980s called Leith Lives and a book called Old Leith by Guthrie Hutton. Lots of school day memories from Cooper Street, David Kilpatrick, North Fort Street and Leith Academy schools. Memories stretching back to the 1900s. Interspersed with music and songs from old 78rpm records. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/17659022

Tim Bell - From The Lebanon to Leith 09/15/2020

Tim Bell - From The Lebanon to Leith Author and Trainspotting Tour Guide Tim Bell takes us from his Quaker boarding school & voluntary work in the Lebanon to hitch hiking home from Gaza, teaching geography & working for the U.N. in West Africa. From a bridge rendezvous in Istanbul to social work in Northumberland, falling in love & ending up at the port via Niddrie. We look at Tim's 40 years in Leith - his path into Divinity, becoming an alternative tour guide & releasing a book based around his home and its relationship with Trainspotting. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/16016849

Andrew Grant: Leith poems from World War Two. Part two 08/28/2020

Andrew Grant: Leith poems from World War Two. Part two Andrew Grant talks about some of the extensive research he has undertaken into Leith and the First World War. He reads poems gleaned from Leith newspapers from the period and gives some background into the events they commemorate. Funny, satrical and often deeply moving these are powerful pieces written by local authors or, in some cases, by an unknown pen. What comes across are poems written about the every day aspects of war, both at the front and at home. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/15776870

Andrew Grant: Leith poems from World War One. Part One 08/28/2020

Andrew Grant: Leith poems from World War One. Part One Andrew Grant talks about some of the extensive research he has undertaken into Leith and the First World War. He reads poems gleaned from Leith newspapers from the period and gives some background into the events they commemorate. Funny, satrical and often deeply moving these are powerful pieces written by local authors or, in some cases, by an unknown pen. What comes across are poems written about the every day aspects of war, both at the front and at home. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/15776843

Leith and World War One with Andrew Grant. 07/22/2020

Leith and World War One with Andrew Grant. Andrew Grant talks about the twelve years he has spent researching those who served and died in World War One from Leith. It's been a work of dedication to say the least. Fascinating stories, history and background into the Great War and it's impact on Leith. Andrew's research is available to the public in hard copy at Leith Library. Six volumes of detailed information for you to use research in your own family history. Interspersed with music from our 78rpm record collection. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/15312017

Stan Eadie The Kirkgate to The Palais De Dance 04/29/2020

Stan Eadie The Kirkgate to The Palais De Dance Once again our regular volunteer Stan Eadie tells us about his younger days in Leith. We are in the Kirkgate and Michael's cafe. We hear of the businesses in this busy shopping area and nearby cinemas. Then its up town to The Palais De Dance, where Stan was the floor manager in the 1950s. We learn how to eject 'awkward' punters, how the Palais's famous revolving stage revolved. Then there is working with Big Tam. Wonder what happened to him? /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/14198264

Stan Eadie's wartime childhood in Leith 04/29/2020

Stan Eadie's wartime childhood in Leith Stan Eadie was born (1936) and rasised in Leith. Apart from a short time in London he has always lived in Pitt Street, Leith. He is a regular volunteer at our Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/14198252

Frank Condie- Childhood in Leith to shipbuilding in Henry Robb. 03/30/2020

Frank Condie- Childhood in Leith to shipbuilding in Henry Robb. Frank Condie was born in 1938 and was brought up in Leith, around Bonnington Rd. He talks us through school days, doing a milk round, memories of war, going to the pictures, the dancing, The Gaiety Theatre and an apprenticeship in Henry Robb's ship yard. He also chooses some favourite music- Izzy Bonn, Billy Daniels, Bill Haley, Elvis and Frankie Laine. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/13764107

George Hackland walks around Leith in the 1930s 03/25/2020

George Hackland walks around Leith in the 1930s George Hackland was born in Newhaven in 1920 but worked in Leith from 1934 until the begining of World War Two. Here he evocatively describes the businesses, industry, shops and buildings in the Streets around where he worked in Dock Street. Recorded in 2013 at The Living Memory Assocation premises, right in the heart of the area George is describing. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/13697381

LifeStory 03/09/2020

LifeStory Shows dedicated to the life stories of individuals. Memories and stories in people's own words. Whether this be a distant childhood memory of a World War One Zeppelin raid, a dramatic escape from Nazi occupied Poland or Rock and Roll dancing in the 1950s. All stories, little and large that make up people's lives. /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/13468625

Leith Lives 03/09/2020

Leith Lives A look at Leith through the memories and voices of those who have lived and worked here. Fron t he 1920s to the 2000s. Leith is now part of Edinburgh but until 1920 was a separate borough, with its own council and tram system. At its heart was the vibrant and busy docks. This channel explores its history through the voices of those who spent time, living, working or playing /episode/index/show/leithlives/id/13468409

Leith Lives

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